Auto-renewal for 2025 licences is now in process, and we’re experiencing higher-than-usual wait times on our phone lines. For FAQs, visit this link.

Children & Young Persons

 
While the employment of children under 16 is generally prohibited by the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996, a child over 14 years may be permitted to do light work during school holidays provided it is not harmful to health, development or schooling or may be employed as part of an approved work experience or education programme. A child over 15 may also do such work for up to 8 hours a week during school term. Any child under 16 may be employed in film, theatre, sports or advertising activities under licence.
 

An employer wishing to employ anyone under 18 must first require the production of their birth certificate, or other satisfactory evidence of age. Before employing a child under 16 the employer must also get written permission from the parents or guardian.
 

The Act further provides for the setting of limits to the working hours of young people, provides for rest intervals and prohibits night work. As regards working hours, young people may not work for more than 8 hours in any day or 40 hours in any week.
 

Employers who employ young people under 18 years of age must display a summary of the Act and also give a summary of the Act to the
employee. They must also keep a register containing the following information of each person under 18 employed:


  • full name

  • date of birth 

  • time work begins and finishes each day

  • rate of pay per pay period

  • total amount of wages or salary paid to each person


Employers found guilty of an offence under the Act are liable on summary conviction of a fine of up to €1,904.61. Continuing breaches of the Act can attract a fine of up to €317.43 per day. 
 

Complaints in relation to infringements of the Act may be referred to the Inspection Services of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
 

If a child or young person feels they have been penalised for refusing to co-operate with an employer in breaching the Act (for example, by refusing to work prohibited hours) then a parent / guardian may make a complaint to a WRC Adjudicator. Complaints should be made within 6 months of the penalisation, this may be extended by a further 6 months if the WRC is satisfied that a reasonable cause prevented the presentation of the complaint within the first 6 months. 
 

To book a free online demo of Bright Contracts click here


To download your free trial of Bright Contracts click here
  

Need help? Support is available at 01 8352074 or [email protected].

Coronavirus (Covid-19) - Guidance for BrightPay usersYear End 20212021 BrightPay - System Requirements2021 Budget - Employer Summary2021 BrightPay - AvailabilityIntroduction to BrightPayStarting the New Tax YearImporting from the Previous Tax YearInstalling BrightPayMoving from Thesaurus Payroll Manager to BrightPayMoving to BrightPay from another payroll softwareMoving BrightPay to a new PCBureau Enhancements - Additional FunctionalityEmployer SetupDigital CertificatesEmployee SetupRevenue Payroll Notifications (RPNs)Payroll CalendarProcessing PayrollImporting Pay Data from a CSV FilePayroll DeductionsPayroll Submission Requests (PSRs)Distributing PayslipsPaying EmployeesSEPA format - Banks catered for in BrightPayMaking Corrections to PayrollRevenue PaymentsRevenue - Contact Telephone NumbersAnalysisPayroll JournalsProcessing StartersProcessing LeaversBenefit in KindIllness BenefitParenting BenefitsPensionsSwitching an Employee's Pay FrequencyBacking Up & Restoring Data FilesLeave Reporting & Employee CalendarAnnual LeaveLeave EntitlementsEmployment LawCSOGlossary of Terms (Pre 2019) - Foreign Language Help SheetsBrightPay ConnectGDPRBrightPay Licence Terms and Conditions